25th July, Miao: The Diocese of Miao was truly blessed with the presence of His Grace Archbishop Emeritus Thomas Menamparampil from 15to 25 July 2013. His Grace was here in the Diocese to animate all the Priests and Women Religious from all over the Diocese. Animations were conducted in five different places in the Diocese, with almost all the Priests and Woman Religious participating in one of the five. Here is a summary of the attendance in the Animation.

Place

Date

Priests

Women Religious

Total

Kristu Jyothi Niwas, Tinsukia

16.07.13

18

19

37

St. Mary’s Church, Namsai

18.07.13

07

26

33

Kristu Jyothi Seminary, Miao

20.03.13

14

21

35

Christ the King School, Khonsa

22.07.13

19

27

46

St. Joseph’s Church, Tissa

24.07.13

13

18

31

TOTOAL

–

71

111

182

His Grace expressed his happiness over the growth the Church in Arunachal Pradesh has made in a short span of time. While speaking to the participants, he exhorted them to be more committed to the mission like Frs. Krick and Bourry who sowed the first seeds of Christianity in Arunachal Pradesh. Appreciating Bishop George for the great work he has done, he requested everyone to have strong missionary zeal and enthusiasm.

The following points emerged from the participants out of their group discussions:

We should try to have the knowledge of the local culture and language as much as possible

We need to visit villages and stay with the people in the villages more often

We should give more importance to lay leaders and we should guide them

Our schools and other institutions should take us to people and it should not be an excuse for us not to be with the people

We need to have regular family visits

We need to have respect for the local cultures and laws

We should respect all in the mission stations, weather Catholic, or Non Catholic or Non-Christians. Reach out to all.

We should be people of prayer and give witness to our Faith by personal examples

We should give Jesus to the people we meet

We need to place the interest of the people before ours

Church in Arunachal is what it is because of the Laity. And so we need to give more responsibility the lay leaders

We need to be flexible, humble, compassionate, approachable, friendly, and simple

Form local village Youth group and Woman Group for touring the villages for preaching

We should be people oriented and should always show interest in leading people to God

Music could be used as a powerful means of evangelization among our people here

The Diocese of Miao is sincerely grateful to His Grace for sparing to his valuable to time to be with us, animating all the Priests and Religious in the Diocese.